Former Fulham and AFC Wimbledon youngster Appau was a late replacement for Jason Banton in the Cards' starting XI as they faced Tranmere Rovers at the Laithwaite Community Stadium on Saturday.

But within seconds of kick off, Tranmere players and supporters were calling for the 18-year-old to be sent off after he fouled visiting defender McNulty, 34, while the pair were contesting a loose ball.

McNulty was left with a nasty-looking deep cut to his leg from the incident and had to be substituted. Appau was shown a yellow card. But Woking boss Limbrick has defended Appau, insisting the teenager isn't a nasty player.

Teenager Declan Appau during pre-season (Image: Surrey Advertiser)

“I thought the ball was there to be won,” Limbrick said. “The ball was quite high and their player went in high as well.

“I don't think [Appau] meant to catch him, he isn't that sort of lad, but he went in for the challenge and I think it looks bad because their player went off injured. He had a bad gash on his leg and we don't want to see that.

“It's unfortunate that he had to go off because he's a good player, McNulty. I don't think [Appau] meant to do it though and it was a ball that was bouncing, as I said, and one he tried to win fairly.

“He did catch the player though. I'd have to see it again but I think it looked worse because the player ended up getting injured because of it.”

(Image: Surrey Advertiser)

In the end, Tranmere won the fixture 1-0 thanks to Andy Cook's 28th minute strike. Woking huffed and puffed but struggled for quality in the final third and couldn't even made a man advantage work in their favour when Cook was later dismissed for two bookable offences.

And Woking boss Limbrick admitted his side were second best in both boxes during the National League fixture.

“It was a tight game I thought,” he said. “We should have probably come in at half-time at 1-0 up because we had a good chance through Fabio [Saraiva] and we weren't happy with the set piece we conceded.

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"Looking at it, last week we conceded four goals most of which were from open play and we weren't happy with that. So to keep Tranmere from scoring from open play is a good achievement because they are a good side with a big budget and a good manager in Micky Mellon.

“So to not let them score from open play we were pleased with, however we missed the first ball in the box and then it drops down and the guy gets too much time and it get laid off for a free shot in the box. Really in and around the box, we should be doing better than that.

“That was probably the difference in the game; they had a little bit more quality in those areas, in both boxes, than us.”